Alicia Hot In West Indies

Review Score: (10/10)
After the oversaturation of Alicia Keys' first album "Songs in A Minor", I was originally not interested in hearing Alicia's second album "The Diary of Alicia Keys". A year later, I decided to get the album because of Alicia's most recent single "If I Ain't Got You" which had grown on me considerably. I really am not a fan of r&b music so it is to my surprise that I found myself grooving to this album. "The Diary of Alicia Keys" is definitely a huge improvement over "Songs in A Minor". The sound is a lot looser and not as polished as its predecessor. There is less of a pop influence (although it is still there) but with a more r&b sound. I definitely can hear a little jazz in her music which I didn't hear on "Songs in A Minor". Thank heavens there is no "Falling" part two. That song got played into the ground no thanks to MTV/VH1 and radio. "Heartburn" sounds like it came out of the late '70s during the whole Foxy Brown, Shaft, Superfly funk era. I could definitely still here Alicia's classical influences like on the first track "Harlem's Nocturne". I wish the song was a little longer though. "Karma" is another favorite song of mine. The song had a really good beat and I really dug the melodies. The one song that I really didn't care for was "Diary" w/Tony! Toni! Tone!. I didn't really care for the dialogue interspersed with the music. That got on my nerves. "Dragon Days" was a bit silly lyrically. Good melody but the title and lyrics I just found to be a bit silly. Overall I found "The Diary of Alicia Keys" to be much more enjoyable than "Songs in A Minor". Alicia has proven to me (at least) she is not some one hit wunderkind as a lot of people probably thought she was when her first album came out. There is a much more cohesive, looser sound on this album than on "Songs in A Minor". I think Alicia will be a force to reckon for years to come if she continues to create music as good as what I just heard on this album.

More Reviews:

• A satisfying follow-up
• Alicia rocks the keys
• A real talent!!
• A real quality album from a quality star!
• Starts Off Very Strong, But Gradually Goes Downhill
• yawn utterly boring
• The Diary of Alicia Keys
• An amazing CD
• Truly A Living Legend
• Incredible
• Very similar to Songs in A Minor
• The Next Wonder
• Pretty Good
• Melodic Keys
• PHENOMINAL
• Best CD Of the Year
• Big up to Alicia
• NO contest
• A Talented Sista!!!
• So Simple, WHAT THE?
• The Diary
• Finally an R+B album worth buying
• one of the cd in 5 years
• I used to be ...
• A grower, better then her debut
• The Diary of ME
• This album is crazy.
• This CD is very overrated!
• I changed my mind
• Role Model
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• Simply One of the Best Songress in 2004-Awesome CD
• Good CD
• A Diary of truth
• The diary of (you don't know my name girl)Alicia Keys.
• From Beginning To Beginning
• Alicia Keys
• There is still some good music out there!!
• Hot and Vibin'
• Great..
• What I THINK!
• True Talent
• Diary is a Must have
• Unique, elegant, Alicia is the real thing!
• Original and striking
• Soulful and Sincere
• alicia cook what happened
• No Sophomore Slump
• Good Album, Could of been better
• Beautiful and Complete
• It's so unfortunate...
• CAN'T EVER GO WRONG!
• Alicia's brilliant "DIARY" to be re-released in September!!!
• Hot album!
• Good snapshot of today's R&B
• I highly recommend this CD!
• Thank You Alecia
• Love it...
• About what I expected
• A Genuine Classic
• This CD is a strong sophomore effort
• This music keeps my heart beating.
• BIG AND RICH!!!
• Crucial Keys
• Falls a litte short
• Not Quite a Diary...but Great Nonetheless
• Like MUSIC-CRITIC.COM SAYS: Motown 101
• I thought it sucked
• A CD worth every penny
• Alicia is a piano playing wiz!
• Share it with someone you love
• The Diary of A.K.
• Pleasantly Surprised
• Live in Concert
• Get Ashanti, Not Alicia, Got A Problem thuggish_4u@yahoo.com
• WOW! what more can i say?
• What more can u say for a CLASSY, GREAT singer....
• No sophomore slump, but there's room for improvement
• No sophmore jitters, even better than her first!!!
• ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
• i love da album
• Alicia Shows Progression & Maturity Vocally
• Great CD!!
• Awesome combination of music and melody
• A.KEYS GONNA ROCK YA!!!!!
• 1 of 2004's best R&B albums yet
• I don't see what some of you are LISTENING to!!
• The talented Ms. Keys
• 4.5 Much better than A-Minor!
• An average follow-up. (3.5 Stars)
• Alicia Keys strikes again!!
• Great CD
• Best R&B This Year!!
• GREAT ALBUM!!!!
• Alicia Keys - Diary Of Alicia Keys
• DONT U DARE MISS THIS!!! LISTEN 2 THE DIARY OF MS. FABULOUS
• Melt my heart from inside to outside!
• Nice work
• Sista, Sista...
• The diary, open it or not